PHNOM PENH, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of large-scale factories in Cambodia has increased by 29 percent to 907 in 2012, Minister of Industry, Mine and Energy Suy Sen said Thursday.

Those large-scale enterprises employed 559,600 employees last year, a 38 percent increase from 403,560 a year earlier, he said during the ministry's annual conference.

"Most of the factories produce garments, textiles, footwear, handbags and hats for international markets," the minister said, adding that some enterprises make food and beverages, beers, chemical substances, cements, construction materials, electronic products, motorcycle and automobile spare parts, and medical supplies and equipment.

Most investors in the large-scale factories are from China, China's Taiwan, China's Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam.

The large-scale enterprises produced products in equivalent to 5.4 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 10 percent year-on-year, according to the ministry's report released at the conference.

Beside the large-scale factories, the country has 38,050 small- sized enterprises, employing 185,630 workers last year, the report said.

Suy Sem said more investors have come to Cambodia thanks to the country's full security and political stability, sound macroeconomics, investment potentials and preferential laws.

He said the industrial sectors have greatly contributed to developing the economy and reducing poverty.